Lyr Req: Springfield Road

Subject: Springfield Road
From:
Date: 09 Sep 02 - 05:26 AM

HI folks, this is a song I've heard many times in Galway; it's probably a ballad from Belfast, and Belfat was the place the 2 blokes playing this song came from... Could anyone provide the lyrics and (hopefuly) an ABC transcription of the melody? Tnx a million in advance Bye Davide

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Springfield Road
From: Sorcha
Date: 09 Sep 02 - 10:51 AM

Mabye one of these? The second just mentions it.......
Springfield Road
Cotton Mill Song

Subject: Lyr Add: THE PRIDE OF THE SPRINGFIELD ROAD
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 11 Sep 02 - 11:33 AM

Copied from http://www.fleadh.de/tunebook/html/pride_of_the_springfield_road.html with alternative words added by me. That site also has the sheet music.

THE PRIDE OF THE SPRINGFIELD ROAD
Also known as THE COTTON MILL SONG

I took my love out for a walk in the merry month of May.
The birds were singing sweetly as we went along the way.
She said she loved me dearly and to me she would prove true.
"If you will stay with me, my love, sure I will stay with you."

CHORUS: Oh, we strolled along the dam and the birds sang loud and gay.
It was there I met my pretty (or "little") brunette. She stole my heart away.
Her cheeks they were like roses red, and her skin as white as snow.
She is the darling of my heart, the pride of the Springfield Road.

Well, now we are to marry for my love has named the day,
And happy we will be together as we go on our way.
We'll have a tidy (or "charming") little house and a garden for to till,
And we'll bring the children up like us to work in the cotton mill. CHORUS

Well, I'll bid you all good evening. To her parents I must go
To see if they will have me now, or if the answer is no.
She says they'll treat me kindly and my glass they'll surely fill,
And they'll drink a toast to the bride and groom that work in the cotton mill. CHORUS

[As "The Pride of the Springfield Road," Patrick Street sings it (as part of a medley) on their album "All in Good Time." As "The Cotton Mill Song," Tommy Makem also recorded it on his album "Ever the Winds" Polydor LP 2383 328, 1975.

On Tommy Makem's web site (http://www.makem.com/discography/recordings/lyricpage/cottonmill.html), these are the first two lines of the last verse:

I'll bid yous all good evening, for now I must away.
I'm off to see her parents and to hear what they will say.]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Springfield Road
From: Ballyholme
Date: 11 Sep 02 - 11:43 AM

The Irish Country Four recorded it on the 1960's album for the Topic label. They, I believe, may have got the song from the singing of the McPeakes.